Locking device for burial vaults or casings.



H. D. CLARK. LOOKING DEVICE FOR BURIAL VAULTS 0R CASINGS. APPLICATION FILED DEG.19, 1910..

LM5,%59., Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

W T). 6 1M1 6 NITED SATEg HUGH D. CLARK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR BURIAI; VAULTS 0B CASINGS;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGHD. CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at colul'nbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for the coflin, the vault or casings being constructed of metal.

It is my purpose in the present instance,

to provide a burial vault orcss ng construct-.

ed entirely of metal, the arrangement of parts being such that the bottom, or base may first-bedowered into the grave and se- 7 curely anchored and cemented in position,

the coflin being then placed upon the base and the cover subsequentlv placed over the base and interlocked therewith in such manner that a permanent secure fastening results.

Still a further object of my'invention is to provide, in connection with the base and cov-. ering, an improved form of locking means.

\Vith the above recitedobjects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of partsset forth in and falling within scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial casing or vault embodying my improvements, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the same and showing the cover and base in I interlocked position, said view being taken on the line y 3 of Fig. 4:, Fig. 3 is a sec-. tional View of a portion of the casing taken. on the line wm of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the casing and base at the end thereof, Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a portion of the base, Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing, the cover in interlocking position, with the base, Fig. 7 is a similar view'but showing the-locking means in reversed or nonlocking position when the cover or base is assembled ready for shipment, and, Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view ofa portion of the base and illustrating the construction of the locking means.

- Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the letter A designates the Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

Application filed December 19,1910. Serial Nd. 598,001.

base of the structure as an entirety, and the letter Bindicates the cover. Both the base and the cover are constructed of suitable metal such as sheet steel 'or the like.- By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the base comprising theraised or elevated portion 1 and having a horizontal flange 2, extending entirely around the. same, this flange being provided at the longitudinal sides of the base with the vertical or upwardly extending flanges 3-3, which terminate adjacent to the ends of the horizontal flange. Mounted on the base, are any suitable number of keepers 4 which are also formed of metal, and in the nature of a Strap or the like. The locking device which cotiperates with the keeper, comprises an angle platefi, provided with relatively powerful leaf springs 6-6 fastened to what forms .the vertical face of the locking device when the latter is locking position, the other member of the angle iron extending beneath the keeper as is shown in'Fig. 8.

The cover B of thevault, which as heretofore stated is also constructed of sheet metal, is provided at-its bottom edges with a flange, which first inclines outwardly as at 7 then downwardly as at 8, then inwardly as at 9 and upwardly as at 10, so that the flange thus formed is adapted to interlock with the spring clips or plates 6 of the locking device when the cover is in its assembled or locked position.

The vault covering is also provided with any suitable number of hinged handles 11 for carrying the same, while the base also has a suitable number of handles 12 prefe rablyfastened to the horizontal portion of the flange of the base and thence turned upwardly as at 13 to form a firm grip.

From the above description taken in con nection with the accompanyin drawings, the construction and manner 0 employing my improved grave vault, will be readily apparent. It will be noted by reference to the drawings, and especially Figs. 6 and 8, that the angular member 5 of the locking device is simply slipped into the keeper -without'being permanently secured thereto.

When it is desired to ship the vault or to mount the cover upon the base in a non-locking position, the angular member 5 is withdrawn from the position shown in Fig. 6 and maybe slipped into the keeper as is shown in Fig. 7, that is, with the faceof the angle iron carrying the locking clips or members 6 turned upward into vertical position while the other member of the angle iron is slipped into the kee er. ,-The cover.

may then be mounted upon t e base without interlocking. When, however, thede'vice is in actual use as in the grave, the base is first lowered into position and the 'cofiin placed thereon and such base, if desired, may be cemented in lace. The locking devices are then shifted into interlocking position as is shown in Fig. 6 with the spring clips thus turned outward and downward and the cover is then placed over and drops into position, the spring locking clips snapping over the upwardly turned portion 10 of the flange of the cover. It w1ll then be noted that the cover is permanently and securely locked insposition and 'asnone of the locking parts of the device are exposed, the cover can only be removed from the base by destroying the vault itself.

What I claim, is

1, A burial case comprising a base structure, a top adapted to rest on said base, horizontal slide-ways on said base, angle irons adapted to removably fit in said slide-ways,

and a resilient latch on one leg of each angle iron, the position of the other leg of said angle iron rendering said latches effective or inefi'ective. i 1 I 2. A burial casing comprising a base, longitudinal troughs on said base, U-shaped' socket members of a shallow form and having lateral flanges for attachment to the upper side of said base near its edges, a bolt member independent of ositive connection with such base and of rlght angularform, outwardly bowed spring pieces fastened at one end and'having their bowed ends free, a top to said casing and an internal trough formed upon said top, said bolt member being constructed to slide into said socket members with their spring supporting legs bearing against the sides of the troughs on said base members for a rigid bracing action, thereagainst when in operative position, said bolt members being reversible for sliding into said socket members in inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGHD. CLARK.

Witnesses JOSEPH P. EAGLESON, R. B. CAVANAGH. 

